Medical Guardian vs. Medical Care Alert

Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert rank among the most prominent providers of medical alert systems currently on the market. Both companies offer a variety of options, including home-based units, mobile devices, and wearable technology.

Monthly costs for Medical Guardian equipment typically range from $32 to $47, while Medical Care Alert devices generally fall between $30 and $40.

Medical Guardian does not provide a trial period for its services.

Customers can choose to add fall detection capabilities to devices from either brand for an additional $10 per month.

The home unit offered by Medical Guardian features a signal range that extends 400 feet further than that of its competitor.

At NCOA, we dedicate ourselves to researching, testing, and recommending products designed to support a healthier lifestyle. We have invested over 3,000 hours into the study of medical alert systems to provide the most reliable product evaluations. To identify the top systems, we:

Consulted with doctors and licensed adult caregivers who specialize in working with older adults

Put more than 35 devices through a series of 16 different tests at our in-house lab

Mystery shopped more than 15 brands

Surveyed more than 1,000 medical alert system users and caregivers

Interviewed experts on older adults falls risk

Worked with older adults to test medical alert systems and get their opinion

Read thousands of verified customer reviews

We continuously evaluate new medical alert systems to ensure our recommendations remain accurate and current.

Medical alert systems can bolster confidence and preserve independence for individuals who live alone or choose to age in place. “A medical alert system doesn’t mean you’re giving something up; it means you’re putting a safeguard in place so you can continue living life on your own terms,” said Tina Sadarangani, ANP-C, GNP-BC, PhD, RN, creator of The Enlightened Caregiver and a board-certified geriatric nurse practitioner.

However, the vast number of available systems can make it difficult to determine which is the best fit. In our survey of older adults who use these systems, respondents identified products from at least 20 different brands.

To simplify your search, we have tested 36 leading medical alert systems to outline the benefits and drawbacks of each. This Medical Care Alert vs. Medical Guardian review compares the pricing, installation, and user experience of these two major brands to help you select the right system.

Both Medical Care Alert and Medical Guardian provide medical alert systems in the form of mobile devices, home units, and wearables. Although Medical Guardian was our top overall choice in our Best Medical Alert Systems roundup, Medical Care Alert holds advantages in specific areas. Medical Care Alert includes a complimentary lockbox, allowing emergency responders to access a house key. Most other companies charge approximately $3 per month or a one-time fee of $30 for this accessory. Additionally, all monitoring staff at Medical Care Alert are trained as EMTs or EMDs.

Both Medical Care Alert and Medical Guardian allow family members and caregivers to stay involved through a dedicated portal. Medical Guardian provides both an online portal and a mobile app.

The home system from Medical Care Alert offers a range of 1,000 feet, whereas the Medical Guardian MG Home unit covers 1,400 feet. Fall detection is available as an optional add-on for all devices across both brands.

Note: Fall detection requires a separate necklace and a $10 monthly fee for both home systems. While you can add fall detection to all GPS-enabled devices from both brands, it cannot be added to the standard necklace included with home units. Both companies will provide a new necklace equipped with fall-detection technology.

The two systems differ significantly in terms of aesthetics. The standard necklace for the Medical Care Alert Home is relatively discreet, while the Medical Guardian MG Classic is designed to look like a traditional medical alert button. Both brands allow users to convert their home help buttons from a wristband to a necklace. Only Medical Guardian offers a GPS wristband that is not a smartwatch, known as the MG Mini Lite.

Longer range on Medical Guardian

It costs $5 more to opt for cellular on Medical Care Alert, and $7 more to opt for cellular on Medical Guardian

Both brands have two-way talk, but the Home and Away Mini has longer battery life (5 days compared to MG Mini’s 3)

MGMove is more feature-rich, with health tracking and apps. MCA is simpler and cheaper

Device types: Home, mobile, wearable

Connection type: Landline or LTE

Fall detection is a separate necklace

Looks more medical/clinical than some devices designed like jewelry

More expensive than some competitors

Medical Guardian earned the highest score in our testing, achieving a 9.9 out of 10. We assessed the company based on its customer service, setup process, user experience, and available features.

Medical Guardian includes a call cancellation feature, which is helpful for users who trigger an alert by mistake. Our testers found that even if an accidental call connects, the monitoring center staff is understanding and the audio quality is clear. Throughout our testing, the monitoring team and customer support specialists were excellent. Another advantage is the extensive range of the home unit; at 1,400 feet, it outperformed the competition by a significant margin.

Response times remained consistently quick. Our testers discovered that initiating a call for help on the MG Move smartwatch is faster when using the touchscreen rather than the side buttons.

Calling for help on the MG Move is easier if you use the touchscreen.

The buttons on the Medical Guardian Home unit represent a primary concern. On the console, the “power” and “volume” buttons appear nearly identical, resulting in a score of 4 out of 5 for device setup. “It feels like they could be different colors to make it easier to distinguish,” said one tester. Medical Guardian also received a 4 out of 5 for help button testing because the buttons lack clear labeling and may not be intuitive. “The instructions are very clear,” said a tester, “But I would not have been able to conduct the test or know which buttons to push without the instructions.”

The power and volume buttons on the back of the MG Home are a little too similar.

Warranty information: Medical Guardian provides a one-year manufacturer’s warranty that covers device defects. This warranty does not include coverage for spills, drops, or typical wear and tear.

Trial period: Medical Guardian does not offer a free trial period.

Returns: You may cancel your Medical Guardian service at any time without incurring cancellation fees. For annual plans, the company will provide a prorated refund for any unused months. You must return any unpurchased equipment, and a restocking fee may apply.

Website: Visit the customer support page to fill out an online contact form.

Phone: 800-313-1191, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (technical support only)

Email: info@medicalguardian.com

Chat: You can find the Medical Guardian chat in the lower-right corner of the website to ask the automated representative your immediate questions.

Fast monitoring center response

EMT/EMD certified operators at monitoring center

Device types: Home, mobile, smart watch

Subtle necklace on the Home system

Shower-safe help button necklace

Two-way communication isn’t on all devices

Our testers noted that they would have appreciated a call cancellation feature similar to the one offered by Medical Guardian. Additionally, not every device includes two-way communication; some units simply feature a button that alerts the center when pressed. However, Medical Care Alert demonstrated excellent response times, clear audio, and consistently friendly monitoring staff.

Medical Care Alert’s home system arrives chock full of items.

Testers also appreciated the design of the Medical Care Alert devices. “You can’t tell that it’s a medical alert necklace,” said one tester regarding the Home Alert Medical System’s jewelry button. “It’s a very unique and discreet design that looks like a necklace I would actually wear.” This is a significant benefit for the nearly 7% of our survey respondents who cited feeling old or helpless as their primary barrier to wearing a medical alert device.

The Home Jewelry Button for the Medical Care Alert At Home system is incredibly discreet.

Warranty information: Medical Care Alert’s warranty covers all services, repairs, and battery replacements. The In-Home System includes a 100% lifetime replacement policy.

Trial period: If you return your Medical Care Alert device within the 14-day trial period, you are eligible for a full refund. If you decide to cancel your subscription later, contact Medical Care Alert to notify them and return your equipment by mail.

Website: You can reach Medical Care Alert through its contact form.

Phone: 1-877-913-3680, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Chat: Available on the website

Medical Guardian vs. Medical Care Alert Cost comparison

Home unit monthly cost (landline)

Home unit monthly cost (cellular)

*No other Medical Care Alert device has this fee

“Simplicity and ease of use are critical,” Sadarangani said when it comes to finding the best medical alert system for you. But personal preference matters, too. If you’re not a watch person to begin with, a medical alert wristband or smartwatch might not be the best fit for your lifestyle.

Both Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert offer a variety of styles. If you are among the 47% of our survey respondents who prefer wearing their medical alert system as a necklace, you might favor the Medical Care Alert Home, the MG Home, or the MG mini.

Exactly one quarter of our respondents wear their medical alert system on their wrist, though studies would advise against that because wristbands and smartwatches can have less accurate fall detection.

Is Medical Care Alert or Medical Guardian cheaper?

If you’re looking for a simpler medical alert system, Medical Care Alert is cheaper. Medical Guardian has some equipment fees, and its devices consistently cost around $5 more than Medical Care Alert’s devices.

What is the biggest difference between Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert?

There are a few key differences between Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert. Medical Guardian is a bit more expensive, and Medical Care Alert’s monitoring center is staffed with EMT-trained employees. Beyond that, the device-level differences are Medical Guardian’s longer home unit range and wider array of wearables and unique features.

Is Medical Care Alert legit?

Yes, Medical Care Alert is a legitimate medical alert system company. Medical Care Alert has a monitoring center, customer service center, and a variety of medical alert system devices.

Do both Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert have live monitoring centers?

Yes, both Medical Guardian and Medical Care Alert have monitoring centers that answer help button calls 24/7.

Questions? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.